Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica), McCormick Ranch, Scottsdale, Maricopa County

This Pacific Loon was discovered on 25 December 2008 by Claudia Kirscher and photographed by Pierre Deviche on 26 December 2008 and Craig Fischer on 27 December 2008..

Pacific Loon has been regular in the Lower Colorado River Valley in recent years but elsewhere in the state it is a casual transient and winter visitor.

Although superficially similar to Common Loon, nonbreeding plumaged Pacific Loon can be identified by the straight border on the neck between the dark and the light, the dark around eye, and the diagnostic chin strap (which is not always present nor easy to see). There are no records of the very similar Arctic Loon in Arizona but it is is eliminated in this case by the lack of white flank patches.

27 December 2008, photos by Craig Fischer

26 December 2008, photo by Pierre Deviche

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